Starting device for engines



- May 17, 1932. E. H. FAHRNEY 1 1,853,583

. STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES Filed Nov. 15, 1929 Patented May 17, 1932UNITED STATE EMERY H. FAHRNEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS STARTING DEVICE FORENGINES 7 Application filed November 15, 1929. Serial No. 407,449.

This invention relates to improvements in starting devices for engines,andone' of the objects of the invention is to provide improved meanswhereby the engine may be started by hand through the medium of aflexible member, such as a chain or cable, all being encased within ahousing.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character improvedmeans for mounting the housing so that in the event the engine kicksback and winds up the flexible actuating member to its limit, thehousing will move or rotate to a sufficient extent to prevent breakingof the flexible member or any other damage.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially 2 the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and inwhich a on line 11, Figure 2, of a device of this character constructedin accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings the numeral 10 designatesthe engine shaft which it is desired to rotate and 11 indicates theusual fly Wheel, the fly wheel being housed within a casing 12.

Connected to the shaft 10 for rotation therewith is a supporting member13 which is preferably provided with a laterally pro- A jectingcircumferential flange 14, although the latter is not necessary, andpivotally sup ported by the member 13 are a plurality of dogs or pawls15, any number of which may be provided, but three are here shown.Loosely mounted upon the shaft 10 is a ratchet member 16 provided withany number of teeth 17 with which the pawls 15 cooperate.

If desired a bushing 18 may be interposed between the ratchet member 16and the shaft Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken Theratchetmember 16 is provided with a drum portion 19 preferably having'aperipheral groove in which may be located a seriesof teeth 20. v y 5 Aflexible member 21, preferably in the 55. form of a chain is secured byone end, in any suitable manner, to the drum 19 and the flexible memberis adapted to be wound upon the drum in such a manner that the teeth orprojections 20 in the peripheral groove will enter some of the linksin-the flexible member. 7 I

Acoiled spring22 is provided and tends normally to rotate the ratchetelement 16' in one direction. One end of the spring is 6 anchored as at23 to a fixed support 24 and the other end is secured as at 25 to theratchet element 16. I r

The spring 22 tends normally to wind the flexible member 21 upon thedrum 19.

A handle 26 is connected with the flexible member 21 and is adapted, tobe grasped by the operator as'a medium for withdrawing the flexiblemember 21 from the vdrum 19. As the flexible member 21 is drawn out bythe handle 26, it will be unwound from the drum 19 of the ratchet member16, causing the latter to rotate and inasmuch as the ends of the dogs orpawls 15 will be contacted with the teeth 17 of the ratchet element, thesupport-or supporting member 13 and consequently the shaft 10 of theengine willbe rotated. Q

As soon as the speed of rotation of the shaft 10 exceeds the speedof theratchet element 16 under the stress of the flexible member 21, thesupport 13 will rotate in advance of the ratchet element16and willtravel in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. Just as soonas this member 13 travels in advance of the ratchet element 16 the topawls 15 will be thrown out by centrifugal force, as indicated by thedotted .lines in Figure'l. During the turning of the ratchet element 16by the flexible member 21, energy will be stored in the spring 22 which,when the flexible member is released by the operator, will cause theratchet element 16 and drum 19 to rotate in a direction to wind up theflexible member 21 on' the drum.

The support 13, dogs or pawls 15, ratchet 77 member 16"and drum 19 arelocated within back when the flexible member. 21 is wound uponfthe drum19, it will be manifest that unless some means is provided forcompensating this kick back the flexiblemember would be broken.Therefore, the housing or casing 27 is mounted for rotationrwith respectto the casing 12,, under abnormal conditions. To that end there isprovided a circumferential flange 31 on the bottom of the housing whichrests against the casing 12. An annular member 32 engages the flange '31and is secured against the housing 12 by means of suitable fasteningdevices 33, such as bolts or the like and will frictional-1y bindthe'housing 27 against movement under normal conditions; When however,as before stated, the engine kicks back the housing 27 will, through themedium of the flexible member 21, handle 26 and opening 28, impart arotary movement to the housing'27 to overcome the friction between theflange 81 and the casing12 and fastening ring 32.

'While the'preferred form of the invention has (been herein shownandzdiescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be madein the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention. 1 I What is claimed as new is 2* r 71,111 combination a rotatable shaft, a starter therefor embodyingoo-operating pawl and ratchet mechanisnnone part of which 'mechanismisse'cured to the shaft for rotation therewith, means for rotating theother, said means embodying aflexible -member adapted to be w-ound upand unwound, a casing forming :a housing'for said'mechanism, saidflexible member passing through the casing to-the outside thereof, andmeans mounting said casing for rotation.

2. In combination a rotatable shaft, a starter there-for embodying cooperating pawl and ratchet mechanism, one part of which mechanism issecuredto the shaft for rotation therewith, means for rotating theother, :said means embodying a flexible member adapted to be wound upand unwound, a :casing forming a housing forsaid mechanism, saidflexible member passing through the casing to the outside thereof, meansmounting .said casing for rotation under abe normal conditions, andmeans normally maintaining the casing against such rotation. r

3. In combination a rotatable shaft, a starter therefor embodyingco-operating pawl and ratchet mechanism, one part of which mechanism issecured to the shaft for rotation therewith, means for rotating theother, said means embodying a flexible member adapted to be wound up andunwound, a casing forming a housing for said mechanism, said flexiblemember passing through the casing to the outside thereof, means mountingsaid casing for rotation under abnormal conditions, and friction meansyieldingly maintaining said casing normally ag ta on 4. In corirb'nationa rotatable shaft; a

ratchet member .on said shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, memberfixed to the shaft for rotation therewith, a 1 pawl pivotally mountedupon said member and co-operating'with the ratchet member for lockingthe shaft and ratchet together'whereby uponrotation of the ratchetmember the' shaft will vbe rotated, a flexible member adapted to bewound upon the ratchet member and un wound therefrom for rotating thelatter, a

spring for winding up said flexible member, said spring being placedunder stressto-store energy therein by the unwinding of the flexiblemember from the ratchet membenua. cas- 7 ing housingthe startingmechanism, said flex ible member passing through the casing wall to theoutside thereof, and means mounting the casing for rotation underabnormalconditions. I 5. In combinationa rotatable shaft, a ratchetmember on :said shaft and rotatable with respect thereto,-a member fixedto the shaft for rotation therewith, a pawl pivot-, allyv mounted uponsaid member and co-operating with the ratchet member for locking theshaft and ratchet together whereby upon rotation of the ratchet memberthe shaft will be rotated, a flexible memberada'pted to be wound uponthe ratchet member and unwound therefrom for rotating thelatter, aspring for winding up said flexible member, said spring being placedunder stress to store energy therein by the unwinding of the flexiblemember from theratchet member, a'casing housing the starting mechanism,said flexible member passing through the casing wall to the outsidethereof, and means mounting the casi-ngfor rotation under abnormalconditions, the last recited means frictionally holding the casingagainst such rotation under normal conditions. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my a name to this specification onthis 12th day of November, 1929. V

' EMERY H. 'FAHRNEY.

